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Oxalis exilis - Cunn.

Common Name

Least Yellow Sorrel, Shady woodsorrel

Family

Oxalidaceae

USDA hardiness

4-8

Known Hazards

The leaves contain oxalic acid, which gives them their sharp flavour. Perfectly all right in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since oxalic acid can bind up the body's supply of calcium leading to nutritional deficiency. The quantity of oxalic acid will be reduced if the leaves are cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[238].

Habitats

Arable land and waste places, it is a common garden weed[9, 17] where it tends to become especially troublesome in pots of plants growing in greenhouses etc[200].

Range

New Zealand and Tasmania.

Edibility Rating

(2 of 5)

Other Uses

(0 of 5)

Weed Potential

No

Medicinal Rating

(2 of 5)

Care (info)

Fully Hardy

Well drained soil

Moist Soil

Full sun

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Oxalis exilis is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 46, 61, 105]. Added to salads, cooked as a potherb with other milder flavoured greens or used to give a sour flavour to other foods[183]. The leaves are available all year round unless the winter is very cold, they have a pleasantly sour taste[114], but are very small and fiddly to harvest[K]. The leaves contain about 86% water, 2.3% protein, 0.8% fat, 8.2% carbohydrate, 150mg calcium, 78mg phosphorus, 8mg iron, 0.6mg niacin, 78mg vitamin C, 6050µg beta carotene[173]. The leaves contain between 7 - 12% oxalate[218]. Use in moderation, see notes at top of sheet, Flowers - raw. A nice acid flavour and a pleasant addition to the salad bowl[K].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Urinary Vitamin C

The whole plant is anthelmintic, antiphlogistic, astringent, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, lithontripic, stomachic and styptic[147, 178, 218, 240]. It is used in the treatment of influenza, fever, urinary tract infections, enteritis, diarrhoea, traumatic injuries, sprains and poisonous snake bites[147]. An infusion can be used as a wash to rid children of hookworms[257]. The plant is a good source of vitamin C and is used as an antiscorbutic in the treatment of scurvy[240]. The leaves are used as an antidote to poisoning by the seeds of Datura spp, arsenic and mercury[218]. The leaf juice is applied to insect bites, burns and skin eruptions[218]. It has an antibacterial activity[218].

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in a sandy soil in a warm dry position[1]. It prefers dry open habitats[50]. Spreading rapidly by seed and underground bulbils, this species can quickly become a nuisance, it is a common weed of pot plants in nurseries[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. This plant does not need any encouragement.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Oxalis acetosella	Wood Sorrel	Perennial	0.1	3-7	F	LMH	FSN	M	3	2	3
Oxalis adenophylla	Sauer Klee	Perennial	0.2	4-8		LMH	SN	M	0	0
Oxalis articulata	Pink Sorrel	Perennial	0.2	7-10		LM	N	M	3	0
Oxalis barrelieri	Barrelier's woodsorrel	Perennial	0.0	0-0		LM	N	DM	2	0
Oxalis bifida		Bulb	0.3	8-11		LM	N	DM	2	0
Oxalis corniculata	Yellow Sorrel, Creeping woodsorrel	Annual/Perennial	0.1	4-8		LMH	N	DM	2	2	1
Oxalis corymbosa	Lilac Oxalis, Pink woodsorrel	Perennial	0.2	7-10		LMH	N	DM	2	0
Oxalis deppei	Iron Cross Plant	Bulb	0.3	7-10		LM	N	M	4	0
Oxalis enneaphylla	Scurvy Grass	Perennial	0.1	5-9		LM	N	DM	2	0
Oxalis europaea		Annual/Perennial	0.4	-		LM	N	DM	2	0
Oxalis frutescens	Shrubby woodsorrel	Perennial	0.0	0-0		LM	N	DM	2	0
Oxalis grandis	Great Yellow Woodsorrel	Annual/Perennial	0.2	5-7	F	LMH	FS	M	2	1	1
Oxalis lasiandra		Perennial	0.3	8-11		LM	SN	M	0	0
Oxalis magellanica		Perennial	0.0	5-9		LM	SN	DM	2	0
Oxalis montana	Mountain Wood Sorrel	Perennial	0.1	0-0		LMH	S	M	2	0	1
Oxalis oregana	Redwood Sorrel	Perennial	0.2	6-9		LMH	FSN	M	3	1	3
Oxalis pes-caprae	Bermuda Buttercup	Perennial	0.2	8-11		LM	N	DM	2	0
Oxalis stricta	Yellow Wood Sorrel, Common yellow oxalis, Common Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis	Annual	0.3	0-0	F	LM	N	DM	2	1	1
Oxalis tetraphylla		Perennial	0.1	7-10		LM	N	DM	3	0	3
Oxalis triangularis	Oxalis	Perennial	0.2	10-11	M	LM	SN	DM	3	0
Oxalis tuberosa	Oca	Perennial	0.5	6-9		LM	N	M	5	0
Oxalis violacea	Violet Wood Sorrel	Bulb	0.3	4-8		LMH	SN	DM	3	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

Cunn.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Yeesun Goh	Sun Jun 1 14:28:45 2003

I saw in a few websites that Oxalis exilis had been renamed Oxalis perennans. Not quite sure, but you can check it out.

Link: Flora database of Australia

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